Apparatus for taking and preserving fingerprint impressions



Aug.28,1923. 1,466,032 P. RYAN APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND PRESERVING FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS Filed March 29, 1922 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 ll I Aug. 28, 1923., 1,466,032

' -P. RYAN APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND PRESERVING FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS I Filed March 29 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Au .2s,1923. j 1,466,032

P. RYAN APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND PRESERVING FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS Filed March 29, 1922 3 sheets sheet \HMHHMIMM Patented Aug, 28, 1923.

aeacsz unites stares PATENT OFFICE,-

rA'rnIcK RYAN, or As'roeIA, new roan,

APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND PRESERVING FINGERPRIN'T IMPRESSIONS.

Application filed' March 29, 1922. Serial No. 547,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK RYAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Astoria, New York city, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for'Taking and Preserving Fingerprint Impressions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had; thereinto the accompanying drawing. y

lily present improvements relate to devices or apparatus for assisting in the tak ing and preservation of finger print impressions. and consist primarily in a simplified and economical machine, cai iable of doing effective and lasting service without liability of breakage era'disordering of the'parts.

lt should be remarked that in the present rapid development of the practi e of fingerprint takingand their preservation for record purposes in the way of identification and. otherwise, the value of mechanical devices for assisting in the work is becoming recognized more and more extensively every day, and it is seen to be very necessary that such devices should be strong, durable, cheap, simple, and easily understood and operated by all classes and grades of em ployees and other persons, unskilled as well as skilled. in governmental departments,

courts, banks, stores, and all kinds of otfices and institutions, as well as wherever fingerprint records are found useful and desirable. lily object therefore is to provide an apparatus or machine that will be suitable for all these needs among many that might be mentioned.

In the mechanical features of the invention I provide improved means whereby-the recording surface for the prints, such as a filing card or blank,-may by an easy manipuimprcssing bed. to enable-all the parts ofsuch recording surface to be quickly available for receiving the impressions of several subject's thereon in any desired succession or relation.

With these and other objects in view,

present invention may be said to consist essentially in the construction, arrangement,

. lation of a handle and without any soiling};v

and combination of parts, and in numerous details and peculiarities of the same, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and then-expresslypointed out in the ensuing clauses of claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustratmg my invention: 4 t Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fingerprint apparatus,- With the parts in the nfolded positio th occupy when extend 9d OI" actual use; c

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation of the apparatus when folded up to occupy aslittle space as possible for storing or portability.-

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the'appain section. i

' Figure d s a top plan View of the base that carries the ink and ink-distributing corresponding parts throughout all the different figures of the drawing.

- The main frame'ls composed of as few parts as possible, so as to insure lightness and simplicity. This frame comprises chiefly a base 1, on which are mounted two parallel side uprights 2, 2, to the upper ends ofwhich are pivoted byimeans of horizontal.

ional detail on the as ratus shown in Figure 1, with certain parts pins 18, see Figure 6, the extension arms 3, 3, which are secured together by the'hon zontal tie-rod 5 having the end nuts 31, and

are adapted to occup'va' vertical position substantially in line with and above the uprights 2, 2, when the machine is open in position for use, as shown" in Figure 1,01 to fold down alongside of the 'upriohtsQ, 2,

when the machine is idle, as indicated in Figure 2. These extension arms. 3, 3, have terminal angular castings 1,. 4, shaped w1th inclined holders for the finger-inking or ink-applying platen't, to which the fingers are pressedt'o-ink themiin readiness for printing; And: the uprights .2 are-conveniently provided. with might-angled feet ,it should also be locked very securely 49 that are secured to base 1 .by means of screws 50 or other means. The finger-inking platen 6, which is mounted at the top of the apparatus, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 8, is preferably disposed in an inclined position when normally placed for use, in order that it can be more readily approached. It is usually a narrow oblong slab of suitable material, as for example, thick plate glass, see'Figure 7 ,which furnishes a very smooth and satis factory surface over which to spreada thin film of ink in such a manner that the fingers may be impressed thereon and enough ink removed thereby to enable them to transfer their iines and markings to the blank or record sheet on. which they will beiminediately thereafter re-impressed in the manner I shall presently point out. It is desirable that this ink-applying surface should be readily removable for cleansing, an1d that and immovably when in use, and to this end therefore I provide one end thereof with notch 21 having a beveled bottom face which takes under and firmly engages ahbeveled lip 19 formed on the casting 4 at the upper end of one of the arms 3, see Figures 3 and 7,while the opposite end of plate 6-is Similarly notched or recessed at 26 "to provide an inclined surface that is engaged by a lock or catch 22 pivoted by means of a pivot 24 on the other casting 4 at the upper end. of the other arm 3, said catch having a handle consisting of a small rigid pin 23 for easily operating it, and being provided with a spring 25 which is so tensioned that it holds the clamp 22 firmly down in the. recess26 when the plate 6 is locked in place for use. By removing'the catch 22 from recess 26 V the platen 6will be quickly released and can be withdrawn endwise' from its position under the stationary lip 19. o f

The main finger-printing table or impression bed is a substantially horizontal plate or surface 11 supported between the unrights 2, 2, near the upper ends thereof, the same being rather narrow in its width, but

, of sufficient strength'to easily stand the impression of the fingers thereon in registering the prints and impressions. The precise mode-of supporting the main table 1-]. may vary widely. but in the present example of mechanism lsupport it on the forwardly projecting arms 7, 7, of the uprights 2, "2.

' This table is screwed near each end by one or more screws-51 to a stud lug, or'cleat or cleats 52, projecting from or cast integral with the arms 7, see Figures 6 and '9, to assist in supporting the table on the arms'vY, 7. l urther the front edge of table 11 is provided with a parallel roller 10, which may be revoluble or stationary, and is jour- -naled in bearings 53 that are secured to the table by means of screws 54.

fllhe record blank, filing card, or other sheet of paper, cardboard, or any other suitable material, and of any size, shape and design, on which the prints of the thumb and fingers are registered by the subject, an eX- ample of which sheet isgiven at 36, is placed upon the table 11, and ispropelled across the face of the'same by feed rollers, all that part of the sheet except that which. is directly exposed for printing being folded back underneath the table or fed back through the machine out of the way. In order to properly position each sheet in this way, and to clamp it at times, and feed it at other times, I have devised selected devices for these purposes. Thus I employ a edge 8 which fits over the roller 10 and is arranged and adapted to hold the sheet 36 between the roller 10 and the curved member 8, the plate 8 being then in an inclined position below roller 10 and holding the sheet 36 back under the table where it will 7 not be crumpled or smudged while the printing operation is being performed, but will be kept fresh and clean for other records to be made thereonas it is fed forward. 7 This plate 8 is provided at each end with an arm or link 9 that is movably supported, by ab pivot 17 on the projecting frame member nearest thereto, so that said plate 8 and its curved edge 8 may be lifted at times from the front edge of the table 11 and the roller 10, or lifted from the position shown in full lines in Figure 8 to the position shown in dotted lines in the same figure, such manipulation of plate 8 beingperformed by laying hold of the lower edge of the plate.

To the links9 are fastened springs 13 that of holding the plate and its curved edge with a tight clamping effect on the record sheet after being lowered into clamping position. 7 V x The feed rollers for moving the record sheet 36 across the. face of table 11, so that after one row of prints has been obtained a fresh space may be provided for the next row and so on, are usually two in number, a smaller upper roller, as 32, and a larger lower roller or drum, as 14. "One of these, as 14:, has ahandle 16 on one end thereof for rotating it: and roller '14 has a shaft 15 which is journaled in the uprights 2.2. The roller. 32 may have the same diameter throughout, or beprovided at intervals with ated directly adjacent to the rear edge of V the table 11, and the record sheets will have their rear edges introduced from the surface of the table into the space between the rollers, and as soon'as the rollers grip the card or paper it may be fed along by the rotation of the rollers effected by turning the handle 16. V

The ink supplying devices are conveniently arranged on the base 1, within the frame, and below the impression table, so that they will be within easy reach but not obtrusive or in a place to interfere with the work of the machine, see Figure 3. They consist of an ink roller 42, which when not in use is supported on ii-notched lugs 43 rigid on base 1, the roller 42 having projecting journal'pins 55 that enter the V-notcl1ed lugs 43 so as to keep the roller 42 out of contact with the base and thus prevent the deposit of ink on the latter, while the handle of the roller has a pin 56 to prop it up at the same time. 44 denotes a cup to hold an ink supply or receive a well containing such supply. 37 denotes a circular table onwhich the roller distributes the ink preparatory to transferring thin films or coatings thereof to the inkapplying platen 6, said table 37 having a central vertical journal 38 carried loosely in a socket in the end of a horizontal arm 39, the other end of which arm has a vertical journal pin that lies loosely in a bearing 57 on the side of a frame piece 2. The journal pin a0 has a disc or shoulder 48 thereon, between which and a part of bearing 57 a spring 41 is tensioned, the same having the effect of holding the pin 40 in its bearing except when it is raised to swing the arm in or out. lVhen table 37 is not in use it will be moved in and lie between the uprights 2, 2, and over base 1, asshown in Figure 3; but when in use the arm 39 will be swung out as shown in Figure 4, by turning it on its pivot pin L0. When the table 37 is idle a catch pin onv the underside of arm 39 enters a recess 46 in bearing 57,- see Figure 5, and spring a l keeps them engaged; but when the table is to be used the 39 will be lifted, overcoming spring etl and disengaging pin 45, from recess 4:6, after which the arm will be turned out and the pin 45 will drop into hole 45. and lock the arm and table in their outer active position. The lifting of arm 39 is accomplished by simply turning it on its pivot which causes pin 45 to ride up the inclined bottom of recess 46. i

The method of using this device for form ing and preserving-finger prints of subject s will be evident to those familiar with finger printing, without supplementingthe previous mechanical description at any length.

When the machine is set for use the parts will he as represented in Figure 1. where the 7 extension arms 3 are vertically above the uprights 2,;thus supporting the ink-applying platen 6 in a convenient inclined positlon.

for inking the fingers. The extension arms 3 are securely held in this position by the Winged clamping screws 27 that are engaged by the slots 28 in the arms 3 near the end thereof and which screw into the uprights 2. Also the record sheet 36 will lie on the table 11, as shown in Figure 8 and in dotted lines in Figure 6, being kept immovable by the front clamping crevice 8. After the ink has been evenly distributed on the table 37 the roller 4L2 can transfer and spread the same on theplaten 6 so that the fingers may be applied thereto and coated with enough ink to make the proper registry on sheet 36. As soon as the fingers are inked they will be applied one by one or several simultaneously or otherwise to the surface of sheet 36 and the prints made thereon. As soon as one set of prints is complete, the record sheet can'be released and fed forward by turning handle-16 so that a space on the sheet will be in readinessfor the next set of prints. When the operation is over and it is desired'to close the machina thearms 3 will be folded down as shown in Figure 2, after first loosening the thumb nuts 27, and in eorder to make the closing of these members as compact as possible, thearms 3 have-slots 29 which in this position engage the thumb nuts '27 which can then be tightened to hold the arms 3 in the closed position, and said arms 3 have also recesses 30 that partly embrace the shaft lfi of the feeddrum l i.

When the parts are thus compactly inter.- closed the machine occupies a small space and can be easily housed, bored or carried about. The simplicity of the construction, and the small number of parts, contributeto the ease of operation, and make it possible for rapid and extensive use and the printing of the fingers of a very large number .of persons in a short time; besides giving to this art a successful portable machine, which is so light and well proportioned that it may be carried about with very little trouble. 7

Many changes and varieties within the terms and scope of the appended claims may.

be made without departing from the invention, and Ireserve wide liberty and privilege in this respect. Q

'Having'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for taking and preserving finger-print impressions. the combination with the framehavi-ng uprights and foldable extension arms pivoted to saidup rights, ofan impression bed supported be tween the uprights, and an ink-applying platen carriedhy the foldable arms.

2. In an apparatus for taking and pre serving finger-print impressions, .the com-, bination with the frame having uprights and foldable extension arms pivoted to said uprights,;of meansffor clamping the arms.

in open position and likewise in folded position, an impression bed supported between the uprights, means for feeding the record sheet over the impression bed, means for holding the sheet firmly on said bed, and an ink-applying platen carried by the extension arms.

In an apparatus for taking serving fingerprint impressions, he combination with the frame having uprights and foldable extension arnis pivoted to said uprights, of means for clamping the arms in open or in folded position, consisting of thumb screws carried in the uprights and adapted to engage one or the other of the members of a pair of slots in each arm to clamp the arms in their different positions, an in'ipressiou bed supported between the uprights, and means for holding and for feeding the record sheet in relation to the bed.

and pre- 4. In an apparatus for taking and pre sewing finger-print impressions, the combinat on with the frame having up hts and foldable extension arms, the latter being slotted, and the uprights having clamps to engage the slotted portiims of the arms, an ink-applying platen carried by the arms, an impression bed supported between the up rights,-a front roller supported on the edge of said bed, a paper clamp arranged in-front of said roller,-and a feed device for therecording sheets arranged at the rearof the said bed.

5. In an apparatus for taking and pre serving finger-print impressions, the connoination with the frame having uprights and toldable extension arms, the latter being slotted, and the uprights having clamps to engage'the slotted portions of the arms, an inl -appl i 1ig platen carried by the an impression bed supported between the up rights, a frontroller supported on the edge of said bed, a paper clamp arranged front of said roller, and a feed device for the recording sheets arranged the rear of the said bed, said feed device consisting of an,

journal ed in bearings at the front edge of the bed, a pivoted clamping plate in front of the said roller, and a pair of rear feed rollers, one of which bears adpistably on the record sheet, and the other of which is provided with a handle forrotating it,

* 1 In an apparatus for taking and-.pre

eeepaa serving finger-print impressions, the combination with the frame having uprights and foldable extension arms pivoted to said uprights, of an ink-applying platen carried by the arms, an impression bed supported between the uprights, a roller carried by the bed, a clamping plate in front of the roller having a lip and provided with end links pivoted to the uprights, said links having springs connected to the frame for holding the clan'iping plate against the roller, and pair of feed rollers at the rea r'of the bed, one of which is provided with means for regulating its tension, while the other is relatively larger and has an operating handle. j

8. In an apparatus for taking and late serving finger-print impressions, the combination with the frame having u iirights and foldable extension arms pivotedtosaidup rights, of an impression bed supported between the uprights, and an ink-applying platen 'carriedyby the foldablefarms, said platen removably arranged, and at oneend loosely engaging a projection on the frame, together with a pivoted spring-provided catch at the other end of the platen for clamping it firmly in position but adapted to release it for cleanin 9. "in an apparatus for taking. and preserving fingerprint impressions, the combination with. a frame having a base and uprights, of a finger-inking platen supported thereby, an lmpression'bed or table mounted between the uprights, a front roller having ournals carried by said table, a clamping plate having a curved lip that partially sur rounds the roller and also a rearwardly-im clined iower portion, said plate being provided at its ends with links pivoted to arms on the uprights, and pair of feed rollers at the rear of the impression bed, one'of which is formed as a drum and is provided with a handle for revolving it.

10. In anapparatns for taking and preserving finger-print impressions, the combiation with a frame having a base and upri hts, of a finger-inking platen supported thereby, an impression bed or table mounted between the uprights, a front rol erhavingjournals 'carried by said table, a clamp-' ing plate having a eurved lip that partially surrounds the"roller and also a rearwardly inclined lower portion, said plate being provided at its ends with links pivoted to arms on the uprights, and a pair of feed rollers the rear of the; impression bed, one of which is formed as a drum and is provided .with a handle for revolving it and the other of which has pressure 'members, together withadiusting screws arranged in the uprights and bearing on said roller, so that the tension of the pressure members on the re cording'sheetmay be varied as desired.

'11, apparatus for taking and pre.

clinecl lower portion, said plate being provided at its ends With links piyoted to arms on the uprights, and a pair of feed rollers at the rear of the impression bed, one of Which is formed as a drum and is provided with a handle for revolving it.

, In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

PATRICK RYAN. 

